Tim Henman was left in awe after attending the Laver Cup during Roger Federer’s final appearance before his retirement in 2022. Henman, known for reaching the semifinals in six Grand Slam tournaments, eagerly accepted an invitation to serve as vice captain for Team Europe at this year’s event.
Henman’s participation in the matches, set to take place from September 19-21 in San Francisco, was announced on Tuesday. He is set to work with Team Europe’s new captain Yannick Noah, while Team World’s squad is led by captain Andre Agassi and vice captain Pat Rafter. Noah steps in for Bjorn Borg as Agassi replaces John McEnroe in their leadership roles.
Henman shared his amazement at the event’s scale and organization. Having reached No. 4 in the ATP rankings, and with significant achievements including four semifinal appearances at Wimbledon, along with others at the U.S. Open and French Open, Henman praised the event. “Seeing the top players of the world, who typically compete as individuals, joining forces as teams was incredible,” Henman expressed. “The fierce competition and the overall experience were simply remarkable. As a sports enthusiast, watching top-tier athletes compete head-to-head fits the bill perfectly when considering the quality of both teams.”
Besides his new role, Henman serves as a television analyst for tennis and has experience as a captain for Britain’s United Cup team, which includes both male and female competitors.
Currently, Team Europe’s lineup for the Laver Cup includes Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, and Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who has reached three major finals. For Team World, American players Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton have been announced as participants.
Henman, stepping into the vice captain position from Thomas Enqvist, is hopeful that Jack Draper, a fellow Briton, will join Team Europe. Draper, at 23 years old, recently reached the ATP top 10 and secured his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, California.
“I spoke with Draper’s brother, Ben, a friend of mine, during Indian Wells,” Henman recalled, referencing Draper’s remarkable accomplishments. “Both Yannick Noah and I are eager to have Jack on our team in San Francisco, and I will certainly do my best to encourage him to join us.”
The Laver Cup, devised by Federer’s management team, held its inaugural event in 2017, marking an annual tradition in the tennis community.